NEWARK, Del. — More than 250 conservation leaders, advocates, scientists and community representatives gathered in Delaware this week for the 14th Delaware River Watershed Forum to discuss issues and opportunities affecting the future of the watershed.
The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed held the two-day forum Tuesday and Wednesday in Newark, bringing together organizations and communities from across the Delaware River Basin.
The coalition represents more than 200 organizations working throughout the watershed. The Delaware River Watershed provides drinking water to 14.2 million people, or about 4% of the U.S. population, including nearly 800,000 Delaware residents.
“The strength of the Delaware River Watershed is rooted in the strength of the people and organizations working across it,” said Meagan Birkenmaier, Director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “The Forum is one of the places where that network comes together most powerfully, creating space for important conversations, new connections, and the exchange of ideas that can move our work forward. As we think about what comes next for the watershed, these conversations and this network will be essential to shaping a future where the Delaware River and the communities that depend on it can thrive.”
This year’s forum, themed “Shaping the Future of Our Watershed,” focused on climate resilience, community planning, recreational access, water quality, restoration and policies designed to protect land and water resources.
Discussions also addressed increasing flood risks, the long-term sustainability of conservation projects and ways to strengthen public access and stewardship throughout the watershed.
“The Delaware River Watershed is critical to the mid-Atlantic region, providing over 14 million people with clean drinking water and generating more than $25 billion each year for local economies,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to see the Forum come together to produce policies that will shape a strong future of the watershed and push back against ongoing efforts to weaken conservation. I look forward to continuing efforts to strengthen and protect this vital resource.”
“Every single day, conservation efforts across the Delaware River Watershed are bringing us closer to creating a vibrant, healthy future where people and wildlife can thrive for generations to come. It’s inspiring that 250 of the leading advocates across the basin’s four-state region are coming together to forge solutions that will help secure clean water, restore healthy habitat, and support thriving communities,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.
Delaware state Sen. Stephanie Hansen said cooperation among different groups and states is important to protecting the watershed.
“The Delaware River Watershed provides vital resources that connect communities and ecosystems throughout our multi-state region, and protecting its health requires a true team effort,” said Delaware State Sen. Stephanie Hansen. “That means bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, building consensus, and refining our environmental protection and conservation efforts to develop solutions that are balanced, focused, and thoughtful. We’ve made tremendous progress towards protecting its natural resources and identifying challenges, and we must continue building on that work to ensure a healthy and vibrant watershed for generations to come.”
Jen Adkins, executive director of the Delaware Nature Society, also emphasized the importance of cooperation throughout the watershed.
“We were fortunate to have the Forum in Delaware this year,” said Jen Adkins, Executive Director of the Delaware Nature Society. “Collaboration with others upstream is particularly important here since we are at the bottom of the Delaware River Watershed and reliant on partners in other states to keep many of our waterways clean and healthy.”
